Swimming device.



E. C. HOWARD.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man Danze, 1918.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Wm. b. hm

@ein

www

www.. wa-umm E. C. HOWARD.

sw|MMxNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILEDVD'EQZG. |918. 1,298,344.

mr Norm uns m, Hummm. wnnmcmu. a c.

Patented Miu'. 25, 1919.

EL'DON C. HOWARD, OF THE PLAINS, OHIO.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Application filed December 26, 1918.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELnoN C. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at The Plains, in the county of Athens and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Swimming Device, of which the following is a sper ifcation. v

The device forming the subject matter of this'application is adapted to be applied to the hands or feet for the purpose of aiding a person in swimming. Y The invention aims to provide a structure of the sort mentioned including foldable wings, novel means being provided for operating the wings. The invention aims, further, to provide novel means for attaching the structure to the hand or the foot.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utilityof devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

Vitb the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of partsV and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, lit being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmental section showing the way in which retaining rods for the wings are mounted; and Fig. 6 is a plan showing a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 both inclusive, there is provided a main bar 1 which may be a channel, including a base 2 and flanges 3. The base 2 is prolonged to form end members 4 and 5, the end member 4 overhanging the base 2, and the end member 5 being dis posed approximately at right angles to the base, as shown in Fig. 3. The end member 4 is provided with back-bent tongues 6 and there are reinforcing flanges 7 along the edges of the end member 5. A U-shaped bearing strip 8 extends transversely of the bar 1 and the ends of the strip are attached to the flanges 7 of the end member 5.

The numeral 90 denotes an auxiliary bar Specification of Letters Patent.

ber 12 being secured Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 268,246.

disposed parallel to the main bar 7 and, preferably, in the form of a channel including a base 9 and flanges 10. A securing element 11 unites one end of the base 9 of the auxiliary bar 90 with the inner end of the member 4 of the main bar 1. The auxiliary bar 90 has a rectangular extension 12, in the form of a channel, including a base 14 and flanges 15, the base of the memto the end of the part 5 of the bar 1 by means of attaching elements 16.

The numeral 17 designates a tread strip located in the same plane with the bars 1 and 90, the tread strip being attached at one end by means of a hinge 18 to the end of the base 14 of the extension 12. The tread strip" 17 is supplied with oppositely extended lateral arms 19 terminating in angularly disposed fingers 21 to which straps 22 are attached as shown at 23. rThe free ends of the straps 22 are adapted to be connected by a buckle (not shown). An eye 24 is secured to the tread strip 17 near to the free end thereof, as indicated at 25, and through the eye, a strap 26 extends, the strap coperating with bails 27 pivoted at 28 to a U- haped heel support 29 held by the securing element 11, hereinbefore mentioned, to the end of the part 4. Preferably, the heel support 29 is formed integrally with the base 9 of the auxiliary bar 90. The strap 26 is knotted at 30 in one of the bails 27 ,the ends of the strap being connected by a buckle 31. The numeral 32 designates a heel member provided adjacent its bottom with flanges 133, from which tread pieces 33 project inwardly. Adjacent its upper end, the heel member 32 is suplied with flanges 34, 1t will be observed that the strap 26 is formed into a rearwardly projecting loop 37, and this loop is engaged through an eye 35 secured at 36 to the heel member 32 intermediate the ends thereof. The tread strip 17 terminates at its rear end in a cross piece 38 having side flanges 39.

In View of the fact that the attaching means whereby the structure is held on the foot, has been described in considerable detail, the way in which the device is held on the foot will now be set forth and in this connection it is to be understood that the foot of the wearer rests on the tread strip 17, the toe being disposed toward the member 12. The ball of the foot rests on the arms 19 between the fingers 21 and isre- "fand the utilitj7 'flanges 39.

extends across the back of the heel and holds the IspringV strip 5.7. foot ofthe Vswimmer the wings 40 will open, Y'and give Van intained bythe strap`22. v'The bottom ofthe;

on the crosslpiece :38;.between the heelk rests l K Y* The loop 37 of the strap 26 the heel member 32 on the heel, the heel being'located between the iianges 133a11d Abe/tween* Y tread pieces 33.

y'the flanges 34,' and resting on the The device forming the subject matter of this application includes a pair of Wings v40,v pivote'dto Vthe main barY l, the wings being l adaptedfto close toward4 "footfof the AWearerwis drawn forwardly, and

being adapted to open,

each other, as the as the foot of the Awearer is thrust rearwardly, fthe function Y of such a constructonbeing clear. Y Y f f 2L-:base f strip V4l 'having' 'end a'rin's42 supplied mediate arm 45 having a reinforcingflange :44. The base strip 4l has eyes:46"tbrough I ceive a lacing v may be held in place aroundthe" wrist of? the wearer. i v The bars l and90, together Withattend- Y L f with 'reinforcing langes43 and 'an inter- 47 extend. A 'Each hinge extends lthrough' the end member 4 of the mainbar ly and'is bentv'over which hinge` rods or butteeiid'edfon the member `4, as shown lhinge rods 47,

' The `opposite ends 'of rclearly at'48in Fig. 5. The tongues Gon ytheV eildmember 4 engage th'le'extremities of' the and itwill be understood" readily from thedrawing'that, owing to alluded to, 'the hingerods 5' of'ifthe bar l and th'rough-theU'ishaped bearing 8A which is 'assembled with the flanges7`of the member 5. VVire frames of Vloop-shape denoted by the `numeral 5 0, are

' connected with the outer'ends ofthe arms 42 and 44, the'ends 5l ofthe frames 50 eX- tending through the flanges of thev end arms 42' andbeing saideiids of vtheV VframesV being held on 'the s' y ans ofV clips 52. AFabric walls '53 are connected by securing devices l' 547tot`he basev strips 41 and tothe arms 42.

projecting 5() y tween the base Binding Vstfrip's 55 connect the walls 53V with the wire frames so as toform extensions beyond thearms 43, a construction which willbe understood readilywhen Fig. ll is examined. Flexible tongues 56fare attached'at102 to the inneredges ofthe andere held, additionally, bythose securing devices 54 which are 55 b..

ase strips 5l,`the`inneredgesof the tongues being overlapped on the main bar l, as

understood clearly" from Fig. 4.

p 57 of arched form *extends beother hand, thev ends vvof' the's'pring strip Lbearing AThe manner ofatta'ching theldevice tothe footof'th'e wearer has-'been discussed hereinf bar l.

" hereinbefore'.described, vand,'-'iyJherefo resentedby the ba'rQO. t u

Having thus described' theV invention, "whatV .isclai'm'ed is:` i

bent .to engage Ithe/same, i

"end members, the said A ra heel strips 41 of the wings on 2 the 4one hand, and the main bar l on the on the interniediateVv arm '4 and "being a heel member; and

before, @dit mit@ understoed that, when the foot is-clrawn Vforwardly through the water, the'wings'40 will close together, being '7 creased holdon'the water, the wings opening until Athe ends 89V ofthe flanges 43 andA-/lV abut against `the'V 'flanges the main In' Fig. eof th the invention is *shown'f modilied form of the'structure isadaptedj to be usedon the Y 8O The'device Wrist, instead off-on the'fioot. Y

tructure shown in Fig. 6l is made up like'fth'e e drawings, 'wherein'af- Y re, parts l herein'before discussed have been 'designated' by numerals previously-used ywiththe suf-f In Fig. 6,afwristl'et'isheld in place by v certain of theY securing devices 54a,

cord '61', wlierebythe "pa-rt -69 ant partsmay loe/described as a Joop-shaped frame' or base member comprisingfinnerfandV outer parts, the outer partbeingrepresented by the bar l, and the er'f part' beingi rep- Vinn l. A `devicev of the` class: deseribedfcbmprising a baseV baryoppositely''disps'ed wings; pivoted to the"v base bar; and spring means coacting with the lwings 'to' swingthe wings normally toward each other.

V'Inf af device of the class described, a main bar; a painofoppositelyi'disp'osed wings pivoted to the: mai n"b ar; and an Varched spring strip 'extended between the inner edges of the wings andthe-mainfbar, the spring strip coacting at itse'nds Withthe wings, to swing the wings toward "each other. Y 3. In a' device "ofthe"class-described, Va main bar including 4end'fmembers;V pivotY rods mounted in the end members `and having their end s distorted to engage o'n'etoflthe endy memberfhaving tongues overlapped upon the distorted ends of the pivot rods swing :on the pivot rods.

4L In a device of the classdescribed, a base; a tread'hinged atr one end to the base;

support on tli. e,"b'ase;"'and a" loopshaped heel strap engagedmwith thetread and with n y i pivoted to thebase. p y Y 55111 av device of the classd'escribed; a Uf shaped` heel support assembled* with-fthe base; a ftread hinged' at one 'end't'o'fthe" base;

a strapv off'loop form 'engaged 'with' the tread, 'with th'e'h'eelmemand wings mountedY -toA the heel support; and'fsidej wings Ybase in the form of A intermediate arms 15 projecting terminally beyond the frames and Copies of this patent may be obtained for assembled with the arms;` Walls connected With the frames and with tlie loop-shaped members; and a U-shaped spring strip disposed between the frames and the main bar, the ends of the strip bearing on the inter mediate arms, to swing the frames toward each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of tvvo Witnesses.

ELD ON. C. HOWARD.

Witnesses JOHN I-IAMK, IV. E. PETERS.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

